Jones Myers warmly welcomes Solicitor Laura Sargeant, who brings sixteen years’ expertise to our esteemed Children’s Team.

Passionate about working in family law since her mid-teens, Laura’s specialisms include adoption, child arrangement orders and child protection orders. She finds it rewarding to support clients through a difficult period in their lives and help them to find the best solution for their unique situation.

Based at Jones Myers’ York city centre office, Laura was attracted by the firm’s values and standing in the area of family law.   

Laura said: “I have always had a lot of admiration and respect for Jones Myers and for their excellent reputation in the legal world. Always going above and beyond for their clients, they are also applauded  for their workplace values and culture.

“I know many of the Children’s Team here, having worked with them on various matters over the years.  I’m excited to work with such a lovely and talented group of people and draw on my experience to add value.”  

Jones Myers Partner, Kate Banerjee, who leads the Children’s Department, said: “Laura is a great asset to our talented and committed team which covers every aspect of private and public children law. We wish her continued success in her career with Jones Myers as the firm continues to go from strength to strength as an acknowledged leader in family law.”

Founded in 1992 as one of the first family law firms of its kind in the North of England, Jones Myers has retained a top position in the Legal 500 and Chambers rankings for over three decades.

Legal 500 2026 comments how the ‘fantastic team’ … ‘always managing clients’ expectations’ and describes the child abduction team as ‘a leader for all of Yorkshire.’ The Children’s Department is renowned globally for its expertise in complicated international child abduction cases in both Hague and Non-Hague countries.

Attracting the best lawyers in its field, Jones Myers has its own in-house counsel and operates across  headquarters in Leeds and offices in Harrogate and York.  

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Enormous congratulations to Jones Myers’ committed Paralegal, Lauren Warford, who has qualified as a family law solicitor.  

Lauren is a valued member of the practice’s internationally renowned Children’s Team whose extensive expertise across private and public children law jointly combines over 16 decades.

The department’s specialisms cover matters relating to jurisdiction, private residence and contact disputes along with care proceedings. Family lawyers are also highly skilled in child abduction, adoption, special guardianship, protection, relocation, educational matters, and domestic abuse.

Lauren, who took her master’s degree at the University of Law in Leeds, has worked with Jones Myers since 2018 and was attracted to the firm’s ethos and values.

Said Lauren: “I was impressed by the practice’s commitment to always deliver the best possible  solutions for clients, and by how Jones Myers always puts children’s best interests first.   

“The team have been outstanding in supporting, mentoring, and encouraging me and it has been incredible learning from, and working with, family law specialists who are leaders in their field. I can’t thank them enough.” 

Lauren achieved her Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) which assesses legal knowledge, professional conduct, ethics, and practical skills and is now looking forward to the next stage of her career and managing her own cases.

Jones Myers Partner, Kate Banerjee, who leads the Children’s Department, said: “Lauren is a valued member of our team and we wish her continued success. Her dedication and hard work, which included studying alongside her busy paralegal work,  makes her promotion extremely well deserved.”

Jones Myers, which has headquarters in Leeds and offices in Harrogate and York, was launched in 1992 as one of the first family law firms of its kind in the North of England.

Highly commended for its outstanding client care in the 2025 Modern Law Private Client Awards, the firm has retained its top tier ranking in legal guides for over three decades. 

The practice is also a finalist in the Family Law Firm of the Year Regional category – which covers the North of England – in this year’s Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards.

Judges shortlisted the firm on factors including the firm’s outstanding level of client care, teamwork and the training and career progression of employees. The winners will be announced next month.

For queries on children law or other family law issues, call Leeds 0113 246 0055, Harrogate 01423 276104, York on 01904 202550. Visit www.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet  @helpwithdivorce

Jones Myers blog is ranked 5^th in the UK’s Best 25 family law blogs and websites to follow in 2025.

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The number of ‘blended families’ – where divorced and separating couples take on their partner’s child or siblings from a previous relationship – continues to increase in today’s modern world.

Step parents who play a formative role in their step children’s upbringing  frequently ask about their rights regarding their stepchildren. This is particularly relevant in situations when their partner works away for extended periods and crucial decisions need to be made.   

What rights do step parents have?

Parental Responsibility is legally defined as being all the “rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law, a parent of a child has in relation to the child and their property.”

Step parents involved in the day-to-day care of their stepchildren and contribute financially to their upbringing, do not have any Parental Responsibility rights.

It is maintained by the children’s birth parents who have the authority to make decisions over their upbringing.

Can step parents obtain Parental Responsibility?

Yes. More than two people can have Parental Responsibility for the same child. Below are the options for step parents to obtain it.

Parental Responsibility Agreement

Step parents who are married to the birth parent who the child lives with can seek a Parental Responsibility Agreement, providing the children’s parents who hold Parental Responsibility give their written consent. The agreement is registered with the court.

Parental Responsibility Order

Married step parents can also apply to the Court for a Parental Responsibility Order in cases where a divorced parent is opposed to a step parent sharing Parental Responsibility.

The Court will examine key considerations such as the relationship between the step parent and the child along with the views of those with existing Parental Responsibility and any potential disruption the order could bring. It will only grant the order if it is in the child’s best interests. 

Child Arrangements Order

Step parents can also apply for a Child Arrangements Order – a legally binding order made by the Court to establish who a child should live with or spend time with .

Also aimed at ensuring the child’s well-being and best interests, the Court takes into account their wishes and feelings, particularly when they are older. It evaluates their physical, emotional, and educational requirements and the potential impact of any substantial changes in their circumstances. 

Adoption

Adoption is another way forward for step parents seeking Parental Responsibility. Our family law specialists can guide and advise you through this process to establish if this is the right way forward for your individual situation. We also collaborate with other agencies until the day the Adoption Order is made.

All the options highlighted above make step parents accountable for providing a home for their step children, protecting them and being responsible for their education, their medical needs and their property.

This is a complex area of law and seeking guidance from experts in our acclaimed Children’s Department is strongly recommended to receive appropriate advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

For advice on Parental Responsibility or any aspect of children law or family law, call us 0113 246 0055 (Leeds),  01423 276104 (Harrogate), or 01904 202550 (York) www.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet @helpwithdivorce

Jones Myers blog is ranked among the UK’s Best 25 family law blogs and websites to follow in 2024

Image courtesy of Pexels via Pixabay.

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Jones Myers has promoted family lawyer Anthony Parrish – who has over two decades experience in family law – to partner.

Anthony, who joined our award-winning niche family law firm as a solicitor in 2007, is a member of our internationally acclaimed Children’s Department.

His extensive expertise in family law includes representing children, teenagers, parents, and local authorities.  Anthony is also experienced in international child abduction cases and adoption work.

Jones Myers partner, Kate Banerjee, who heads our Children’s Department, said: “Anthony’s promotion, which is aligned with our firm’s ongoing expansion, is extremely well deserved.

“A valuable and committed member of our team for the past 14 years, Anthony is commended for giving realistic advice in a sensitive and appropriate way, which is tailored to suit the individual needs of our clients. We wish him continued success.”

The latest Legal 500 guide applauds the new partner for being: “Well organised and totally on top of the facts in a case. He deals with his lay clients and other professionals in a case with absolute courtesy.”

Said Anthony: “I am absolutely delighted with the opportunity of becoming a partner at Jones Myers. It is an exceptional firm that I am very proud to be part of. I look forward to continuing to play a key role within a highly experienced team which consistently provides outstanding client service and legal advice.”

Jones Myers, which has offices in Leeds, Harrogate and York, has retained our Top Tier ranking in the esteemed Chambers and Legal 500 guides for over two decades. The latest Legal 500 edition describes us as a ‘premier niche family law firm’

Marking our 30^th anniversary in 2022, our practice, which currently holds the ‘Family Law Firm of the year North’ title, is a finalist in the same category for this year’s Family Law awards which take place in London on November 24.  

For queries on divorce or family law related issues, call us at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, Harrogate on 01423 276104, or York on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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By Kate Banerjee , head of Jones Myers Children’s Department  

My concerns about heartbreaking cases – when life-changing decisions affecting vulnerable and often bewildered clients are made at remote hearings – have been re-enforced in a recent study. 

The Covid-19 Pandemic has understandably called for remote video and telephone hearings where vulnerable clients are isolated and bereft of any contact or support from solicitors and barristers representing them.

At these hearings momentous decisions are being made about their future on highly sensitive and emotional issues which include babies being removed from their mothers after birth, children being adopted, their contact with parents suspended or stopped – and changes made to where they live.   

Prior to the Pandemic as family lawyers we could support our clients in a court hearing and intervene if they did not understand the proceedings or wanted to change their mind.   

A study commissioned by Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the family division of the high court, highlight s how parents are participating in online proceedings on a phone from home – often without adequate technology or support.

The study says those who needed an interpreter or who had disabilities faced particularly severe challenges and that 40 per cent of parents did not understand what had happened during the hearing.

This situation is unacceptable. In my extensive experience as a family lawyer, it is impossible to read a situation virtually to sense if my client is, for example, upset, crying, shaking their head or confused.

There is also no privacy or opportunity in the hearings for clients/parents to say they don’t understand what is being said or to change their mind.

Sir Andrew McFarlane is following up concerns raised in the study and will be working with the judiciary and the professions to develop solutions – a positive development.  

In these heart-wrenching situations urgent improvements – such as providing down time in the hearings for clients to speak to their lawyers to clarify any points – are needed.  

More Nightingale Courts – temporary courts set up in July to help tackle the impact of Coronavirus on the justice system – would also be a step in the right direction.  

The overarching priority of the hearings is to keep children safe and our dedicated Children’s team continue to go the extra mile to advise and support our clients by face-to-face meetings where possible along with additional meetings and regular telephone calls.

The impact of momentous decisions made on these highly sensitive cases have lifelong consequences for society’s most vulnerable.  It is vital that these hearings are fair so they do not feel alone and in despair.        

For children related and family law issues, call us at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, Harrogate on 01423 276104, or York on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce.

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